The talks focused attention on working out a home-grown resolution to the North and East, convening religions leaders in those areas and holding discussions with them, initiating an appropriate programme to foster harmony among communities with the help of religious leaders, and appointing a consulting board of religions leaders to promote religious co-existence, said General Secretary of the Congress of Religions Ven. Dr. Ittepane Dhammalankara Thero.

Expressing his views, President Rajapaksa noted that working out a resolution to the North and East is before Parliament. Bringing resolutions immediately after a conflict that spanned 30 years is not an easy task, and short-tern solutions are not productive, he said. The need for creating consensus among Tamil party leaders with regard to this was stressed.

Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith stated that even though various international attempts to defame the country have dissolved in confrontation with the powerful measures taken by the President, people are concerned about this situation. The unity of religions leaders is necessary to dispel that fear from people’s minds, he said.

Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon said that all the Police Stations necessary for the civil governance have at present been established in the Eastern province.

Establishing Police Stations in the North has now started. 350 Tamil-speaking police officers have been recruited while measures are underway to recruit 350 more in the near future.

Adding his views, Ven. Brahma Sri S.K. Sharma Kurukkal pointed out that the North has achieved speedy progress in the areas of education and agriculture. Ven. M.M. Saafir Maulavi said that the unity of religions leaders can lead the future generation in the right path.

Those who participated in discussions from the Congress of Religions were Most Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero, Rev. Banagala Upatissa Thero, Rev. Muruttetuwe Ananda Thero, Most Ven. Bishop Oswald Gomis, Rev. Fr. Dr. Mervin Fernando, Rev. Fr. W.G. Ebenezer Joseph, Ven. M.M. Saafir Maulavi, and Ven. Brahma Sri S.K. Sharma Kurukkal.

Governor of the Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri, Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana & Religious Affairs A.D.S. Gunawardena and Secretary to President Lalith Weeratunga were also present on the occasion.